Methods for preparing new taxoids and pharmaceutical compositions containing them

ABSTRACT

Methods of preparing methylthiomethyloxy taxoids of formula (XXXIV)from baccatin and beta-lactam are presented. These new taxoids display noteworthy anti-tumor and anti-leukemic properties.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/797,845, filed Mar. 5, 2001, now abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/528,448, filed Mar. 17, 2000; now U.S. Pat. No. 6,232,477; which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/271,300, filed Mar. 17, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,040,466; which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/913,972, filed Sep. 26, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,889,043; and a continuation of PCT/FR96/00441, filed Mar. 25, 1996.

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/528,448, filed Mar. 17, 2000, in turn is also a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/516,019, filed Feb. 29, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,218,553; which is a divisional of Ser. No. 08/481,205, filed Jun. 7, 1995; now U.S. Pat. No. 6,187,916; which is a continuation of Ser. No. 08/383,610, filed Feb. 2, 1995, now abandoned; which is a continuation of Ser. No. 08/011,922, filed Feb. 1, 1993, now abandoned. All of these patents and applications are hereby specifically incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

The present invention relates to methods of preparing new taxoids of general formula:

in which:

Z represents a hydrogen atom or a radical of general formula:

in which:

R₁ represents a benzoyl radical optionally substituted with one or more identical or different atoms or radicals chosen from halogen atoms and alkyl radicals containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms, alkoxy radicals containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms or trifluoromethyl radicals, a thenoyl or furoyl radical or a radical R₂—O—C(═O)— in which

R₂ represents:

an alkyl radical containing 1 to 8 carbon atoms, an alkenyl radical containing 2 to 8 carbon atoms, an alkynyl radical containing 3 to 8 carbon atoms, a cycloalkyl radical containing 3 to 6 carbon atoms, a cycloalkenyl radical containing 4 to 6 carbon atoms, a phenyl radical (unsubstituted or substituted with one or more atoms or radicals selected from halogen atoms, alkyl radicals containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and alkoxy radicals containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms), cyano radicals, carboxyl radicals, and alkoxycarbonyl radicals in which the alkyl portion contains 1 to 4 carbon atoms;

a phenyl or an α- or β-naphthyl radical radical, which is unsubstituted or substituted with one or more atoms or radicals selected from halogen atoms, alkyl radicals containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms, alkoxy radicals containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and a 5-membered aromatic heterocyclic radical;

R₃ represents a phenyl radical;

R₄ represents an alkanoyloxy radical in which the alkanoyl portion contains 2 to 6 carbon atoms in an unbranched or branched chain, this radical being unsubstituted or substituted with one or more halogen atoms or with an alkoxy radical containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms, or alternatively R₄ represents a cycloalkanoyloxy radical in which the cycloalkanoyl portion contains 4 to 8 carbon atoms, or alternatively R₄ represents a benzoyloxy radical; and

R₅ represents an alkoxy radical containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms in an unbranched or branched chain, substituted by an alkylthio radical containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms.

Preferably, the radical R₄ represents an alkanoyloxy radical in which the alkanoyl portion contains 2 to 6 carbon atoms, or a cycloalkanoyloxy radical in which the cycloalkanoyl portion contains 4 to 8 carbon atoms.

More especially, the present invention relates to the products of general formula (I) in which Z represents a hydrogen atom or a radical of general formula (II) in which

R₁ represents a benzoyl radical, or a radical R₂—O—C (═O)— in which

R₂ represents a tert-butyl radical, and

R₃ represents a phenyl radical, and

R₄ represents an alkanoyloxy radical in which the alkanoyl portion contains 2 to 4 carbon atoms, and

R₅ represents an alkoxy group containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms substituted by a methylthio radical.

Still more especially, the present invention relates to the products of general formula (I) in which Z represents a hydrogen atom or a radical of general formula (II) in which R₁ represents a benzoyl radical or a radical R₂—O—C(═O)— in which R₂ represents a tert-butyl radical and R₃ represents a phenyl radical, R₄ represents an acetoxy, or a methoxyacetoxy radical, and R₅ represents a methylthiomethoxy radical.

The products of general formula (I) in which Z represents a radical of general formula (II) display noteworthy anti-tumor and anti-leukemic properties.

According to the present invention, the new products of general formula (I) in which Z represents a radical of general formula (II) may be obtained by esterification of a product of general formula:

in which R₄ and R₅ are defined as above, by means of an acid of general formula:

in which R₁ and R₃ are defined as above, and either R₆ represents a hydrogen atom and R₇ represents a group protecting the hydroxyl function, or R₆ and R₇ together form a saturated 5- or 6-membered heterocycle, or by means of a derivative of this acid, to obtain an ester of general formula:

in which R₁, R₃, R₄, R₅, R₆ and R₇ are defined as above, followed by replacement of the protective groups represented by R₇ and/or R₆ and R₇ by hydrogen atoms.

The esterification by means of a product of general formula (XII):

R′₄−X₁  (XII)

in which R′₄ is such that R′₄—O— is identical to R₄ defined as above but cannot represent a hydrogen atom or a hydroxyl radical, and in which X₁ represents a hydroxyl radical, may be performed in the presence of a condensing agent (carbodiimide, reactive carbonate) and an activating agent (aminopyridines) in an organic solvent (ether, ester, ketones, nitrites, aliphatic hydrocarbons, halogenated aliphatic hydrocarbons, aromatic hydrocarbons) at a temperature of between −10 and 90° C.

The esterification may also be carried out using a product of general formula (XII) in which X₁ represents a radical R₄—O—, working in the presence of an activating agent (aminopyridines) in an organic solvent (ethers, esters, ketones, nitriles, aliphatic hydrocarbons, halogenated aliphatic hydrocarbons, aromatic hydrocarbons) at a temperature of between 0 and 90° C.

The esterification may also be carried out using a product of general formula (XII) in which X₁ represents a halogen atom, in the presence of a base (tertiary aliphatic amine), working in an organic solvent (ethers, esters, ketones, nitriles, aliphatic hydrocarbons, halogenated aliphatic hydrocarbons, aromatic hydrocarbons) at a temperature of between 0 and 80° C.

Preferably, R₆ represents a hydrogen atom and R₇ represents a group protecting the hydroxyl function, or alternatively R₆ and R₇ together form a saturated 5- or 6-membered heterocycle.

When R₆ represents a hydrogen atom, R₇ preferably represents a methoxymethyl, 1-ethoxyethyl, benzyloxymethyl, trimethylsilyl, triethylsilyl, β-trimethylsilylethoxymethyl, benzyloxycarbonyl or tetrahydropyranyl radical.

When R₆ and R₇ together form a heterocycle, the latter is preferably an oxazolidine ring optionally monosubstituted or gem-disubstituted at position 2.

Replacement of the protective groups R₇ and/or R₆ and R₇ by hydrogen atoms may be performed, depending on their nature, in the following manner:

1) when R₆ represents a hydrogen atom and R₇ represents a group protecting the hydroxyl function, replacement of the protective groups by hydrogen atoms is performed by means of an inorganic acid (hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, hydrofluoric acid) or organic acid (acetic acid, methanesulfonic acid, trifluoromethanesulfonic acid, p-toluenesulfonic acid) used alone or mixed, working in an organic solvent chosen from alcohols, ethers, esters, aliphatic hydrocarbons, halogenated aliphatic hydrocarbons, aromatic hydrocarbons or nitrites at a temperature of between −10 and 60° C.,

2) when R₆ and R₇ together form a saturated 5-or 6-membered heterocycle, and more especially an oxazolidine ring of general formula:

in which R₁ is defined as above and R₈ and R₉, which may be identical or different, represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl radical containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms, or an arylalkyl radical in which the alkyl portion contains 1 to 4 carbon atoms and the aryl portion preferably represents a phenyl radical optionally substituted with one or more alkoxy radicals containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms, or an aryl radical preferably representing a phenyl radical optionally substituted with one or more alkoxy radicals containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms, or alternatively R₈ represents an alkoxy radical containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms or a trihalomethyl radical such as trichloromethyl or a phenyl radical substituted with a trihalomethyl radical such as trichloromethyl and R₉ represents a hydrogen atom, or alternatively R₈ and R₉, together with the carbon atom to which they are linked, form a 4- to 7-membered ring, replacement of the protective group formed by R₆ and R₇ by hydrogen atoms may be performed, depending on the meanings of R₁, R₈ and R₉, in the following manner:

a) when R₁ represents a tert-butoxycarbonyl radical and R₈ and R₉, which may be identical or different, represent an alkyl radical or an arylalkyl (benzyl) or aryl (phenyl) radical, or alternatively R₈ represents a trihalomethyl radical or a phenyl radical substituted with a trihalomethyl radical and R₉ represents a hydrogen atom, or alternatively R₈ and R₉ together form a 4- to 7-membered ring, treatment of the ester of general formula (V) with an inorganic or organic acid, where appropriate in an organic solvent such as an alcohol, yields the product of general formula (VII):

in which R₃, R₄ and R₅ are defined as above, which is acylated by means of benzoyl chloride in which the phenyl ring is optionally substituted or by means of thenoyl chloride, of furoyl chloride or of a product of general formula (VIII):

R₂—O—C(═O)—X  (VIII)

in which R₂ is defined as above and X represents a halogen atom (fluorine, chlorine) or a residue —O—R₂ or —O—C(═O)—O—R₂, to obtain a product of general formula (I) in which Z represents a radical of general formula (II).

Preferably, the product of general formula (V) is treated with formic acid at a temperature in the region of 20° C. to yield the product of general formula (VII).

Preferably, the acylation of the product of general formula (VII) by means of a benzoyl chloride in which the phenyl radical is optionally substituted or by means of thenoyl chloride, of furoyl chloride or of a product of general formula (VIII) is performed in an inert organic solvent chosen from esters such as ethyl acetate, isopropyl acetate or n-butyl acetate and halogenated aliphatic hydrocarbons such as dichloromethane or 1,2-dichloroethane, in the presence of an inorganic base such as sodium bicarbonate or an organic base such as triethylamine. The reaction is performed at a temperature of between 0 and 50° C., and preferably in the region of 20° C.

b) when R₁ represents an optionally substituted benzoyl radical, a thenoyl or furoyl radical or a radical R₂O—C(═O)— in which R₂ is defined as above, R₈ represents a hydrogen atom or an alkoxy radical containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms or a phenyl radical substituted with one or more alkoxy radicals containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms and R₉ represents a hydrogen atom, replacement of the protective group formed by R₆ and R₇ by hydrogen atoms is performed in the presence of an inorganic acid (hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid) or organic acid (acetic acid, methanesulfonic acid, trifluoromethane-sulfonic acid, p-toluenesulfonic acid) used alone or mixed in a stoichiometric or catalytic amount, working in an organic solvent chosen from alcohols, ethers, esters, aliphatic hydrocarbons, halogenated aliphatic hydrocarbons and aromatic hydrocarbons at a temperature of between −10 and 60° C., and preferably between 15 and 30° C.

According to the invention, the products of general formula (III), that is to say the products of general formula (I) in which Z represents a hydrogen atom and R₄ and R₅ are defined as above, may be obtained from 10-deacetyl-baccatin III of formula (IX):

It can be especially advantageous to protect the hydroxyl functions at the positions 7 and 13 selectively, for example in the form of a silyl diether which may be obtained by the action of a silyl halide of general formula (X):

(R)₃—Si—Hal  (X)

in which the symbols R, which may be identical or different, represent an alkyl radical containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms, optionally substituted with a phenyl radical, or a phenyl radical, on 10-deacetyl-baccatin III, to obtain a product of general formula (XI):

in which R is defined as above, followed by the action of a product of general formula (XII):

R′₄—X₁  (XII)

in which R′₄ is such that R′₄—O— is identical to R₄ defined as above but cannot represent a hydrogen atom or a hydroxyl radical, and XI represents a halogen atom, to obtain a product of general formula (XIII):

in which R and R₄ are defined as above, the silyl protective groups of which are replaced by hydrogen atoms to obtain a product of general formula (XIV):

in which R₄ is defined as above, which is etherified selectively at position 7 by the action of a product of general formula:

R′₅—X₂  (XV)

in which R′₅ is such that R′₅—O— is identical to R₅ defined as above and X₂ represents a halogen atom or a sulfuric or sulfonic ester residue, to give the product of general formula (III).

Generally, the action of a silyl derivative of general formula (X) on 10-deacetyl-baccatin III is performed in pyridine or triethylamine, where appropriate in the presence of an organic solvent such as an aromatic hydrocarbon, for instance benzene, toluene or xylenes, at a temperature between 0° C. and the refluxing temperature of the reaction mixture.

Generally, the action of a product of general formula (XII) on a product of general formula (XI) is performed, after metalation of the hydroxyl function at position 10 by means of an alkali metal hydride such as sodium hydride, an alkali metal amide such as lithium amide or an alkali metal alkylide such as butyllithium, working in an organic solvent such as dimethylformamide or tetrahydrofuran at a temperature of between 0 and 50° C.

Generally, the replacement of the silyl protective groups of the product of general formula (XIII) by hydrogen atoms is performed by means of an acid such as hydrofluoric acid or trifluoroacetic acid in the presence of a base such as triethylamine or pyridine optionally substituted with one or more alkyl radicals containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms, the base optionally being combined with an inert organic solvent such as a nitrile, for instance acetonitrile, or a halogenated aliphatic hydrocarbon such as dichloromethane at a temperature of between 0 and 80° C.

Generally, the action of a product of general formula (XV) on a product of general formula (XIV) is performed under the conditions described above for the action of a product of general formula (XII) on a product of general formula (XI).

According to the invention, the products of general formula (I) in which Z represents a radical of general formula (II), and R₄ and R₅ are defined as above may be obtained from a product of general formula (XVI):

in which R₁, R₃, R₆ and R₇ are defined as above, by silylation at position 7 by means of a product of general formula (X), to obtain a product of general formula (XVII):

in which R, R₁, R₃, R₆ and R₇ are defined as above, which is functionalized at position 10 by means of a product of general formula (XII) to give a product of general formula (XVIII):

in which R, R₁, R₃, R₄, R₆ and R₇ are defined as above, the silyl protective group of which is replaced by a hydrogen atom to give a product of general formula (XIX):

which, by the action of a product of general formula (XV), yields the product of general formula (V), the protective groups of which are replaced by hydrogen atoms to give a product of general formula (I) in which Z represents a radical of general formula (II).

The reactions used for silylation, functionalization and replacement of the protective groups by hydrogen atoms are performed under conditions similar to those described above.

The products of general formula (XVI) may be obtained under the conditions described in European Patent EP 0 336 841 and International Applications PCT WO 92/09589 and WO 94/07878, or from the products of general formula (XX):

in which R₁ and R₃ are defined as above, according to known methods for protecting the hydroxyl function of the side chain without affecting the remainder of the molecule.

According to the invention, the products of general formula (I) in which Z represents a hydrogen atom or a radical of general formula (II) may be obtained by the action of activated Raney nickel, in the presence of an aliphatic alcohol containing 1 to 3 carbon atoms, on a product of general formula (XXI):

in which R₄ is defined as above and R′ and R″, which may be identical or different, represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl radical containing 1 to 6 carbon atoms, an alkenyl radical containing 2 to 6 carbon atoms, an alkynyl radical containing 2 to 6 carbon atoms, a cycloalkyl radical containing 3 to 6 carbon atoms or a cycloalkenyl radical containing 3 to 6 carbon atoms, or alternatively R′ and R″, together with the carbon atom to which they are linked, form a cycloalkyl radical containing 3 to 6 carbon atoms or a cycloalkenyl radical containing 4 to 6 carbon atoms, and Z₁ represents a hydrogen atom or a radical of general formula (XXII):

in which R₁ and R₃ are defined as above, and either R₆ represents a hydrogen atom and R₇ represents a group protecting the hydroxyl function, or R₆ and R₇ together form a saturated 5- or 6-membered heterocycle, and R₄ is defined as above, to obtain a product of general formula (XXIII):

in which R₁, R₃, R₄, R₅, R₆, and R₇ are defined as above, followed, when Z₁ represents a radical of general formula (XXII), that is to say when the product of general formula (XXIII) is identical to the product of general formula (V), by replacement of the protective groups represented by R₆ and/or R₆ and R₇ by hydrogen atoms under the conditions described above.

Generally, the action of activated Raney nickel in the presence of the aliphatic alcohol is performed at a temperature of between −10 and 60° C.

According to the invention, the product of general formula (XXI) in which Z₁ and R₄ are defined as above may be obtained by the action of a dialkyl sulfoxide of general formula (XXIV):

in which R′ and R″ are defined as above, on a product of general formula (XIX).

Generally, the reaction of the sulfoxide of general formula (XXIV), preferably dimethyl sulfoxide, with the product of general formula (XIX) is performed in the presence of a mixture of acetic acid and acetic anhydride or a derivative of acetic acid such as a haloacetic acid at a temperature of between 0 and 50° C., and preferably in the region of 25° C.

According to the invention, the products of general formula (I) in which Z represents a radical of general formula (II) may be obtained by the action of a product of general formula (XII) on a product of general formula (XXV):

in which R₁, R₃, R₅, R₆ and R₇ are defined as above, working under the conditions described for the action of a product of general formula (XII) on a product of general formula (XI), followed by replacement of the protective groups represented by R₇, or R₆ and R₇, by hydrogen atoms under the conditions described above.

The product of general formula (XXV) may be obtained by the action of a zinc halide such as zinc iodide or hydrazine on a product of general formula (XXVI):

in which R1, R3, R5, R6 and R7 are defined as above.

Generally, the reaction is performed working in an aliphatic alcohol containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms, such as methanol or ethanol, at a temperature of between 0 and 50° C.

The product of general formula (XXVI) may be obtained by the action of activated Raney nickel in the presence of an aliphatic alcohol containing 1 to 3 carbon atoms on a product of general formula (XXVII):

in which R₁, R₃, R₆, R₇, R′ and R″ are defined as above, working under the conditions described above for the preparation of a product of general formula (I) from a product of general formula (XXI).

The product of general formula (XXVII) may be obtained by the action of a sulfoxide of general formula (XXIV) on a product of general formula (XXVII):

in which R₁, R₃, R₆ and R₇ are defined as above, working under the conditions described above for the action of a sulfoxide of general formula (XXIV) on a product of general formula (XIX).

The product of general formula (XXVIII) may be obtained from a product of general formula (XXIX):

in which R₁, R₃, R₆ and R₇ are defined as above, working under the conditions described above for replacing the silyl groups of the product of general formula (XIII) by hydrogen atoms.

The product of general formula (XXIX) may be prepared under the conditions described in International Application PCT WO 95/11241.

The new products of general formula (I) obtained by carrying out the processes according to the invention may be purified according to known methods such as crystallization or chromatography.

The products of general formula (I) in which Z represents a radical of general formula (II) display noteworthy biological properties.

In vitro measurement of the biological activity was performed on tubulin extracted from pig's brain by the method of M. L. Shelanski et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 70, 765-768 (1973). Study of the depolymerization of microtubules to tubulin was performed according to the method of G. Chauvière et al., C.R. Acad. Sci., 293(7): series II, 501-503 (1981). In this study, the products of general formula (I) in which Z represents a radical of general formula (II) were shown to be at least as active as TAXOL® (paclitaxel) and TAXOTERE® (docetaxel).

In vivo, the products of general formula (I) in which Z represents a radical of general formula (II) were shown to be active in mice grafted with B16 melanoma at doses of between 1 and 10 mg/kg administered intraperitoneally, as well as on other liquid or solid tumors.

The new products have anti-tumor properties, and more especially activity against tumors which are resistant to TAXOL® (paclitaxel) or to TAXOTERE® (docetaxel). Such tumors comprise colon tumors which have a high expression of the mdr1 gene (multiple drug resistance gene). Multiple drug resistance is a customary term relating to the resistance of a tumor to different products having different structures and mechanisms of action. Taxoids are generally known to be strongly recognized by experimental tumors such as P388/DOX, a cell line selected for its resistance to doxorubicin (DOX) which expresses mdr1.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:

FIG. 1 illustrates a method for synthesizing methylthiomethyl taxoids via an oxazolidine coupling method.

FIG. 2 illustrates a method for synthesizing methylthiomethyl-paclitaxel derivatives via a β-lactam synthon method.

FIG. 3 illustrates another method for synthesizing methylthiomethyl-paclitaxel derivatives via a β-lactam synthon method.

The examples which follow illustrate the present invention.

EXAMPLE 1

243 mg of 4α-acetoxy-2α-benzoyloxy-5β,20-epoxy-1β-hydroxy-7β-methoxy-9-oxo-10β-(3-pyridylcarbonyl)oxy-11-taxen-13α-yl (2R,4S,5R)-3-tert-butoxycarbonyl-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-4-phenyl-1,3-oxazolidine-5-carboxylate were dissolved in 4.5 cm³ of a 0.1 N ethanolic solution of hydrochloric acid containing 1% of water. The solution thereby obtained was stirred for 3 hours at a temperature in the region of 20° C. and 25 cm³ of dichloromethane were then added. The organic phase was separated after settling has taken place and washed successively two times with 10 cm³ of saturated aqueous sodium hydrogen carbonate solution, dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered and concentrated to dryness under reduced pressure (2.7 kPa) at 40° C. 290 mg of a white foam were obtained, which were purified by chromatography on silica gel deposited on plates (gel thickness 1 mm, plates 20×20 cm, eluent: dichloromethane/methanol, 95:5 by volume) in 80-mg fractions (4 plates). After localization with UV of the zone corresponding to the adsorbed product sought, this zone was scraped off and the silica collected was washed on sintered glass ten times with 10 cm³ of ethyl acetate. The filtrates were combined and concentrated to dryness under reduced pressure (2.7 kPa) at 20° C. A white foam was obtained, which was repurified according to the same technique (2 plates: 20×20×1 mm; eluent: dichloromethane/methanol, 95:5 by volume). 132 mg of 4α-acetoxy-2α-benzoyloxy-5β,20-epoxy-1β-hydroxy-7β-methoxy-9-oxo-10β-(3-pyridylcarbonyl)oxy-11-taxen-13α-yl (2R,3S)-3-tert-butoxycarbonylamino-2-hydroxy-3-phenylpropionate were thereby obtained in the form of a white foam, the characteristics of which are as follows:

optical rotation: ${\lbrack\alpha\rbrack \begin{matrix} D \\ 20 \end{matrix}} = {{- 34}{\left( {{c = 0.5};{methanol}} \right).}}$

1H NMR spectrum (300 MHZ; CDCl3: chemical shift δ in ppm; coupling constants J in Hz): 1.30 (s, 3H: —CH₃ at position 16 or 17); 1.35 (s, 12H: —C(CH₃)₃ and —CH₃ at position 16 or 170; 1.75 (s, 3H: —CH₃); 1.82 and 2.77 (2 mts, 1H each: —CH₂— at position 6); 1.97 (s, 3H: —CH₃); 2.35 (d, J=9, 2H: —CH₂— at position 14); 2.39 (s, 3H: —COCH₃); 3.38 (d, J=5, 1H: —OH at position 2′); 3.42 (s, 3H: —OCH₃); 3.88 (d, J=7.5, 1H: —H at position 3); 3.96 (dd, J=11 and 7.5, 1H: —H at position 7); 4.18 and 4.32 (2d, J=8.5, 1H each: —CH₂— at position 20); 4.64 (mt, 1H: —H at position 2′); 4.98 (broad d, J=10, 1H: —H at position 5); 5.28 (broad d, J=10, 1H: —H at position 3′); 5.39 (d, J=10, 1H: —CONH—); 5.70 (d, J=7.5, 1H: —H at position 2); 6.22 (broad t, J=9, 1H: —H at position 13); 6.69 (s, 1H: —H at position 10); from 7.25 to 7.45 (mt, 5H: —C₆H₅ at position 3′); 7.44 [(dd, J=8.5 and 6, 1H: —OCOC₅H₄N(—H at position 5)]; 7.50 [(dd, J=7.5, 2H: —OCOC₆H₅(—H at position 3 and H at position 5)]; 7.62 [(t, J=7.5, 1H: —OCOC₆H₅(—H at position 4)]; 8.12 [(d, J=7.5, 2H: —OCOC₆H₅(—H at position 2 and —H at position 6)]; 8.35 [(dt, J=8.5 and 1, 1H: —OCOC₅H₄N(—H at position 4)]; 8.82 (dd, J=6 and 1, 1H: —OCOC₅H₄N(—H at position 6)]; 9.32 (d, J=1, 1H: —OCOC₅H₄N(—H at position 2)].

4α-Acetoxy-2α-benzoyloxy-5β,20-epoxy-1β-hydroxy-7β-methoxy-9-oxo-10β-(3-pyridylcarbonyl)oxy-11-taxen-13α-yl (2R,4S,5R)-3-tert-butoxycarbonyl-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-4-phenyl-1,3-oxazolidine-5-carboxylate was prepared in the following manner:

290 mg of 4α-acetoxy-2α-benzoyloxy-5β,20-epoxy-1β,10β-dihydroxy-7β-methoxy-9-oxo-11-taxen-13α-yl (2R,4S,5R)-3-tert-butoxycarbonyl-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-4-phenyl-1,3-oxazolidine-5-carboxylate, 18.5 mg of 4-(dimethylamino)-pyridine, 0.5 g of 4 Å molecular sieve and 112 mg of N,N′-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide were added at a temperature in the region of 20° C. to a solution, kept stirring under an argon atmosphere, of 46 mg of 3-pyridinecarboxylic acid in 25 cm³ of anhydrous ethyl acetate. The reaction mixture was kept stirring for 16 hours at a temperature in the region of 20° C., 46 mg of 2-pyridinecarboxylic acid, 18.5 mg of 4-(dimethylamino)pyridine, 0.5 g of 4 Å molecular sieve and 112 mg of N,N′-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide were then added and the mixture was again kept stirring for 24 hours, this cycle then being repeated twice more. The reaction mixture was filtered through sintered glass lined with Celite. The sintered glass was washed two times with 50 cm³ of ethyl acetate, and the filtrates were combined, washed successively two times with 10 cm³ of saturated aqueous sodium hydrogen carbonate solution and six times with 20 cm³ of distilled water, dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered and concentrated to dryness under reduced pressure (2.7 kPa) at 40° C. 298 mg of 4α-acetoxy-2α-benzoyloxy-5β,20-epoxy-1β-hydroxy-7β-methoxy-9-oxo-10β-(3-pyridylcarbonyl)oxy-11-taxen-13α-yl (2R,4S,5R)-3-tert-butoxycarbonyl-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-4-phenyl-1,3-oxazolidine-5-carboxylate were thereby obtained in the form of a white foam.

4α-Acetoxy-2α-benzoyloxy-5β,20-epoxy-1β,10β-dihydroxy-7β-methoxy-9-oxo-11-taxen-13α-yl (2R,4S,5R)-3-tert-butoxycarbonyl-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-4-phenyl-1,3-oxazolidine-5-carboxylate was prepared in the following manner:

0.263 cm³ of hydrazine monohydrate were added dropwise and at a temperature in the region of 20° C. to a solution, kept stirring under an argon atmosphere, of 150 mg of 4α-acetoxy-2α-benzoyloxy-5β,20-epoxy-1β-hydroxy-7β-methoxy-10β-methoxyacetoxy-9-oxo-11-taxen-13α-yl (2R,4S,5R)-3-tert-butoxycarbonyl-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-4-phenyl-1,3-oxazolidine-5-carboxylate in 4 cm³ of anhydrous ethanol. The reaction medium was kept stirring for 1 hour at a temperature in the region of 20° C. and then poured into a mixture of 100 cm³ of ethyl acetate and 50 cm³ of distilled water. The organic phase was separated after settling has taken place and the aqueous phase was re-extracted two times with 50 cm³ of ethyl acetate. The organic phases were combined, washed four times with 50 cm³ of distilled water, dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered and concentrated to dryness under reduced pressure (2.7 kPa) at 40° C. 180 mg of a white foam were obtained, which was purified by chromatography on silica gel deposited on plates [(gel thickness 1 mm, plates 20×20 cm, eluent: dichloromethane/methanol (90:10 by volume)] in 90 mg fractions (2 plates). After localization with UV rays of the zone corresponding to the adsorbed product sought, this zone was scraped off and the silica collected was washed on sintered glass ten times with 10 cm³ of ethyl acetate. The filtrates were combined and concentrated to dryness under reduced pressure (2.7 kPa) at 40° C. 113 mg of 4α-acetoxy-2α-benzoyloxy-5β,20-epoxy-1β,10β-dihydroxy-7β-methoxy-9-oxo-11-taxen-13α-yl (2R,4S,5R)-3-tert-butoxycarbonyl-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-4-phenyl-1,3-oxazolidine-5-carboxylate were thereby obtained in the form of a white foam.

4α-Acetoxy-2α-benzoyloxy-5β,20-epoxy-1β-hydroxy-7β-methoxy-10β-methoxyacetoxy-9-oxo-11-taxen-13α-yl (2R,4S,5R)-3-tert-butoxycarbonyl-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)4-phenyl-1,3-oxazolidine-5-carboxylate was prepared in the following manner:

100 cm³ of an ethanolic suspension of activated nickel prepared by Raney's method (obtained from 80 cm³ of the approximately 50% commercial aqueous suspension, by successive washing fifteen times with 100 cm³ of distilled water and four times with 150 cm³ of ethanol to a pH in the region of 7) were added at a temperature in the region of 20□C. to a solution, kept stirring under an argon atmosphere, of 1.041 g of 4α-acetoxy-2α-benzoyloxy-5β,20-epoxy-1β-hydroxy-10β-methoxyacetoxy-7β-methylthiomethoxy-9-oxo-11-taxen-13α-yl (2R,4S,5R)-3-tert-butoxycarbonyl-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-4-phenyl-1,3-oxazolidine-5-carboxylate in 100 cm³ of anhydrous ethanol. The reaction mixture was kept stirring for 7 days at a temperature in the region of 20° C. and was then filtered through sintered glass. The sintered glass was washed three times with 100 cm³ of ethanol and the filtrates were combined and concentrated to dryness under reduced pressure (2.7 kPa) at 40° C. 821 mg of a white foam were obtained, which was purified by chromatography on 75 g of silica (0.063-0.2 mm) contained in a column 2.5 cm in diameter (eluent: dichloromethane/ethyl acetate, 90:10 by volume), collecting 5-cm³ fractions. The fractions containing only the product sought were pooled and concentrated to dryness under reduced pressure (2.7 kPa) at 40° C. 228 mg of 4α-acetoxy-2α-benzoyloxy-5β,20-epoxy-1β-hydroxy-7β-methoxy-10β-methoxyacetoxy-9-oxo-11-taxen-13α-yl (2R,4S,5R)-3-tert-butoxycarbonyl-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-4-phenyl-1,3-oxazolidine-5-carboxylate were thereby obtained in the form of a white foam.

4α-Acetoxy-2β-benzoyloxy-5β,20-epoxy-1β-hydroxy-10β-methoxyacetoxy-7β-methylthiomethoxy-9-oxo-11-taxen-13α-yl(2R,4S,5R)-3-tert-butoxycarbonyl-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-4-phenyl-1,3-oxazolidine-5-carboxylate was prepared in the following manner:

3.35 cm³ of acetic acid and 11.5 cm³ of acetic anhydride were added at a temperature in the region of 20° C. to a solution, kept stirring under an argon atmosphere, of 5 g of 4α-acetoxy-2β-benzoyloxy-5β,20-epoxy-1β,7β-dihydroxy-10β-methoxyacetoxy-9-oxo-11-taxen-13α-yl (2R,4S,5R)-3-tert-butoxycarbonyl-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-4-phenyl-1,3-oxazolidine-5-carboxylate in 165 cm³ of anhydrous dimethyl sulfoxide. The reaction mixture was kept stirring for 3 days at a temperature in the region of 20° C. and was then poured into 500 cm³ of dichloromethane. 100 cm³ of saturated aqueous potassium carbonate solution were then added with efficient stirring to a pH in the region of 7. After stirring for 10 minutes, the organic phase was separated after settling has taken place and the aqueous phase was re-extracted two times with 250 cm³ of dichloromethane. The organic phases were combined, washed with 3 times 100 cm³ of distilled water, dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered and concentrated to dryness under reduced pressure (2.7 kPa) at 40° C. 9.5 g of a pale yellow oil were obtained, which was purified by chromatography on 250 g of silica (0.063-0.4 mm) contained in a column 3 cm in diameter [eluent: dichloromethane/methanol (99:1 by volume)], collecting 50 cm³ fractions. The fractions containing only the product sought were pooled and concentrated to dryness under reduced pressure (2.7 kPa) at 40° C. 3.01 g of 4.-acetoxy-2β-benzoyloxy-5β,20-epoxy-1β-hydroxy-10β-methoxyacetoxy-7β-methylthiomethoxy-9-oxo-11-taxen-13α-yl (2R,4S,5R)-3-tert-butoxycarbonyl-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-4-phenyl-1,3-oxazolidine-5-carboxylate were thereby obtained in the form of a white foam.

4α-Acetoxy-2β-benzoyloxy-5β,20-epoxy-1β,7β-dihydroxy-10β-methoxyacetoxy-9-oxo-11-taxen-13α-yl (2R,4S,5R)-3-tert-butoxycarbonyl-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-4-phenyl-1,3-oxazolidine-5-carboxylate was prepared in the following manner:

220 cm³ of triethylamine/hydrofluoric acid (mole ratio 1:3) complex were added dropwise at a temperature in the region of 0° C. to a solution, kept stirring under an argon atmosphere, of 20 g of 4α-acetoxy-2α-benzoyloxy-5β,20-epoxy-7β-triethylsilyloxy-1β-hydroxy-10β-methoxyacetoxy-9-oxo-11-taxen-13α-yl (2R,4S,5R)-3-tert-butoxycarbonyl-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-4-phenyl-1,3-oxazolidine-5-carboxylate in 200 cm³ of anhydrous dichloromethane. The reaction mixture was then warmed to a temperature in the region of 20° C., maintained for 3 hours at this temperature and poured into 4 liters of saturated aqueous sodium hydrogen carbonate solution. The pH of the reaction medium thus being brought to around 7. After stirring for 10 minutes, the organic phase was separated after settling has taken place and the aqueous phase was extracted two times with 100 cm³ of dichloromethane. The organic phases were combined, washed with 100 cm³ of distilled water, dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered and concentrated to dryness under reduced pressure (2.7 kPa) at 40° C. 17.4 g of 4α-acetoxy-2α-benzoyloxy-5β,20-epoxy-1β,7β-dihydroxy-10β-methoxyacetoxy-9-oxo-11-taxen-13α-yl (2R,4S,5R)-3-tert-butoxycarbonyl-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-4-phenyl-1,3-oxazolidine-5-carboxylate were thereby obtained in the form of a white foam.

4α-Acetoxy-2α-benzoyloxy-5β,20-epoxy-7β-triethylsilyloxy-1β-hydroxy-10β-methoxyacetoxy-9-oxo-11-taxen-13α-yl (2R,4S,5R)-3-tert-butoxycarbonyl-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-4-phenyl-1,3-oxazolidine-5-carboxylate was prepared under the conditions described in International Application PCT WO 95/11241.

EXAMPLE 2

Working as in Example 1, but starting from 210 mg of 4α-acetoxy-2α-benzoyloxy-5β,20-epoxy-1β-hydroxy-7β-methoxy-9-oxo-10β-(2-pyridylcarbonyl)oxy-11-taxen-13α-yl (2R,4S,5R)-3-tert-butoxycarbonyl-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-4-phenyl-1,3-oxazolidine-5-carboxylate, 145 mg of 4β-acetoxy-2α-benzoyloxy-5β,20-epoxy-1β-hydroxy-7β-methoxy-9-oxo-10β-(2-pyridylcarbonyl)oxy-11-taxen-13α-yl (2R,3S)-3-tert-butoxycarbonylamino-2-hydroxy-3-phenylpropionate were obtained in the form of a white foam, the characteristics of which are as follows:

optical rotation: ${\lbrack\alpha\rbrack \begin{matrix} D \\ 20 \end{matrix}} = {{- 52}{\left( {{c = 0.5};{methanol}} \right).}}$

¹H NMR spectrum (400 MHZ: CDCl₃); chemical shifts δ in pp,; coupling constants J in Hz): 1.31 (s, 3H: —CH₃ at position 16 or 17); 1.37 [(s, 12H: —C(CH₃) ₃ and —CH₃ at position 16 or 17]; 1.74 (s, 1H: —OH at position 1); 1.78 (s, 3H: —CH₃); 1.82 and 2.78 (2 mts, 1H each: —CH₂— at position 6); 1.97 (s, 3H: —CH₃); 2.35 (d, J=9, 2H: —CH₂— at position 14) 2.40 (s, 3H: —COCH₃); 3.40 (d, J=4.5, 1H: —OH at position 2′); 3.43 (s, 3H: —OCH₃); 3.92 (d, J=7.5, 1H: —H at position 3); 3.98 (dd, J=11 and 7, 1H: —H at position 7); 4.20 and 4.32 (2 d, J=8.5, 1H each: —CH₂— at position 20); 4.64 (mt, 1H: —H at position 2′); 5.00 (broad d, J=10, 1H: —H at position 5); 5.28 (broad d, J=10, 1H: —H at position 3′); 5.43 (d, J=10, 1H: —CONH—); 5.73 (d, J=7.5, 1H: —H at position 2); 6.22 (broad t, J=9, 1H: —H at 13); 6.67 (s, 1H: —H at position 10); from 7.25 to 7.45 (mt, 5H: —C₆H₅ at position 3′); 7.51 [(mt, 3H: —OCOC₆H₅ (—H at position 3 and H at position 5) and —OCOC₅H₄N (—H at position 5) ]; 7.61 [(t, J=7.5, 1H: —OCOC₆H₅ (—H at position 4)]; 7.88 [(split t, J=8 and 1, 1H: —OCOC₅H₄N (—H at position 4)]; 8.12 [(d, J=7.5, 2H: —OCOC₆H₅ (—H at position 2 and —H at position 6)]; 8.20 (broad d, J=8, 1H: —OCOC₅H₄N(—H at position 3)]; 8.82 (broad dd J=5 and 1, 1H: —OCOC₅H₄N(—H at position 6)].

Working as in Example 1, but starting from 300 mg of 4α-acetoxy-2α-benzoyloxy-5β,20-epoxy-1β,10β-dihydroxy-7β-methoxy-9-oxo-11-taxen-13α-yl (2R,4S,5R)-3-tert-butoxycarbonyl-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-4-phenyl-1,3-oxazolidine-5-carboxylate, 230 mg of 4α-acetoxy-2α-benzoyloxy-5β,20-epoxy-1β-hydroxy-7β-methoxy-9-oxo-10β-(2-pyridylcarbonyl)oxy-11-taxen-13α-yl (2R,4S,5R)-3-tert-butoxycarbonyl-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-4-phenyl-1,3-oxazolidine-5-carboxylate were obtained in the form of a white foam.

EXAMPLE 3

Working as in Example 1, but starting from 300 mg of 4α-acetoxy-2α-benzoyloxy-10β-cyclopentylcarbonyloxy-5β,20-epoxy-1β-hydroxy-7β-methoxy-9-oxo-11-taxen-13α-yl (2R,4S,5R)-3-tert-butoxycarbonyl-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-4-phenyl-1,3-oxazolidine-5-carboxylate, 96 mg of 4α-acetoxy-2α-benzoyloxy-10β-cyclopentylcarbonyloxy-5β,20-epoxy-1β-hydroxy-7β-methoxy-9-oxo-11-taxen-13α-yl (2R,3S)-3-tert-butoxycarbonylamino-2-hydroxy-3-phenylpropionate were obtained in the form of a white foam, the characteristics of which are as follows:

optical rotation: ${\lbrack\alpha\rbrack \begin{matrix} D \\ 20 \end{matrix}} = {{- 66}{\left( {{c = 0.5};{methanol}} \right).}}$

¹H NMR spectrum (400 MHZ; CDCl₃; chemical shifts δ in ppm; coupling constants J in Hz); 1.25 (s, 6H: —CH ₃ at positions 16 and 17); 1.39 [s, 9H; —C(CH ₃)₃]; from 1.55 to 1.80 and from 1.90 to 2.10 (2 mts, 4H each: —CH ₂— of the cyclopentyl); 1.71 (s, 1H: —OH at position 1); 1.75 (s, 3H: —CH ₃); 1.82 and 2.75 (2 mts, 1H each: —CH ₂— at position 6); 1.93 (s, 3H: —CH ₃); 2.33 (d, J=9 Hz, 2H: —CH ₂— at position 14); 2.39 (s, 3H: —COCH ₃); 2.95 (mt, 1H: ═CH— of the cyclopentyl); 3.38 (s, 3H: —OCH ₃); 3.40 (d, J=5, 1H: —OH at position 2′); 3.88 (d, J=7.5, 1H: —H at position 3); 3.91 (dd, J=11 and 7.5, 1H: —H at position 7); 4.19 and 4.32 (2 d, J=8.5, 1H each: —CH ₂ at position 20); 4.65 (mt, 1H: —H at position 2′); 4.98 (broad d, J=10, 1H: —H at position 5); 5.28 (broad d, J=10, 1H: —H at position 3′); 5.41 (d, J=10, 1H: —CONH—); 5.68 (d, J=7.5, 1H: —H at position 2); 6.21 (broad t, J=9, 1H: —H at position 13); 6.45 (s, 1H: —H at position 10); from 7.25 to 7.45 (mt, 5H: —C₆ H ₅ at position 3′); 7.51 [t, J=7.5, 2H: —OCOC₆H₅ (—H at position 3 and H at position 5); 7.63 (t, J=7.5, 1H: —OCOC₆H₅ (—H at position 4)) 8.12 (d, J=7.5, 2H: —OCOC₆H₅ (—H at position 2 and —H at position 6)).

Working as in Example 1, but starting from 300 mg of 4α-acetoxy-2α-benzoyloxy-5β,20-epoxy-1β,10β-dihydroxy-7β-methoxy-9-oxo-11-taxen-13α-yl (2R,4S,5R)-3-tert-butoxycarbonyl-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-4-phenyl-1,3-oxazolidine-5-carboxylate, 410 mg of 4α-acetoxy-2α-benzoyloxy-10β-cyclopentylcarbonyloxy-5β,20-epoxy-1β-hydroxy-7β-methoxy-9-oxo-11-taxen-13α-yl (2R,4S,5R)-3-tert-butoxycarbonyl-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-4-phenyl-1,3-oxazolidine-5-carboxylate were obtained in the form of a white foam.

EXAMPLE 4

Working as in Example 1, but starting from 300 mg of 4α-acetoxy-2α-benzoyloxy-10β-cyclopropylcarbonyloxy-5β,20-epoxy-1β-hydroxy-7β-methoxy-9-oxo-11-taxen-13α-yl (2R,4S,5R)-3-tert-butoxycarbonyl-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-4-phenyl-1,3-oxazolidine-5-carboxylate, 130 mg of 4α-acetoxy-2α-benzoyloxy-10β-cyclopropylcarbonyloxy-5β,20-epoxy-1β-hydroxy-7β-methoxy-9-oxo-11-taxen-13α-yl (2R,3S)-3-tert-butoxycarbonylamino-2-hydroxy-3-phenylpropionate were obtained in the form of a white foam, the characteristics of which are as follows:

optical rotation: ${\lbrack\alpha\rbrack \begin{matrix} D \\ 20 \end{matrix}} = {{- 71}{\left( {{c = 0.5};{methanol}} \right).}}$

¹H NMR spectrum (400 MHZ; CDCl₃, chemical shifts δ in ppm; coupling constants J in Hz): 1.00 and 1.19 (2 mts, 2H each: —CH ₂— of the cyclopropyl); 1.25 (s, 3H: —CH ₃ at position 16 or 17); 1.27 (s, 3H: —CH ₃ at position 16 or 17); 1.39 [s, 9H: —C(CH ₃)₃]; 1.71 (s, 1H: —OH at position 1); 1.75 (s, 3H: —CH ₃); from 1.70 to 1.90 (mt, 1H: ═CH— of the cyclopropyl); 1.82 and 2.75 (2 mts, 1H each: —CH ₂— at position 6); 1.93 (s, 3H: —CH ₃); 2.33 (d, J=9, 2H: —CH ₂— at position 14); 2.40 (s, 3H: —COCH ₃); 3.35 (s, 3H: —OCH ₃); 3.40 (d, J=5, 1H: —OH at position 2′); 3.88 (d, J=7.5, 1H: —H at position 3); 3.89 (dd, J=11 and 7.5, 1H: —H at position 7); 4.19 and 4.32 (2 d, J=8.5, 1H each: —CH ₂— at position 20); 4.65 (mt, 1H: —H at position 2′); 5.00 (broad d, J=10, 1H: —H at position 5); 5.28 (broad d, J=10, 1H: —H at position 3′); 5.42 (d, J=10, 1H: —CONH—); 5.68 (d, J=7.5, 1H: —H at position 2); 6.21 (broad t, J=9, 1H: —H at position 13); 6.48 (s, 1H: —H at position 10); from 7.25 to 7.45 (mt, 5H: —C₆ H ₅ at position 3′); 7.52 (t, J=7.5, 2H: —OCOC₆H₅ (—H at position 3 and H at position 5)); 7.64 (t, J=7.5, 1H: —OCOC₆H₅ (—H at position 4)); 8.12 (d, J=7.5, 2H: —OCOC₆H₅ (—H at position 2 and —H at position 6)).

Working as in Example 1, but starting from 300 mg of 4α-acetoxy-2α-benzoyloxy-5β,20-epoxy-1β,10-dihydroxy-7β-methoxy-9-oxo-11-taxen-13α-yl (2R,4S,5R)-3-tert-butoxycarbonyl-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-4-phenyl-1,3-oxazolidine-5-carboxylate, 435 mg of 4α-acetoxy-2α-benzoyloxy-10β-cyclopropylcarbonyloxy-5β,20-epoxy-1β-hydroxy-7β-methoxy-9-oxo-11-taxen-13α-yl (2R,4S,5R)-3-tert-butoxycarbonyl-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-4-phenyl-1,3-oxazolidine-5-carboxylate were obtained in the form of a white foam.

EXAMPLE 5

Working as in Example 1, but starting from 430 mg of 4α-acetoxy-2α-benzoyloxy-5β,20-epoxy-1β-hydroxy-7β-methoxy-10β-methoxyacetoxy-9-oxo-11-taxen-13α-yl (2R,4S,5R)-3-tert-butoxycarbonyl-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-4-phenyl-1,3-oxazolidine-5-carboxylate, 164 mg of 4α-acetoxy-2α-benzoyloxy-5β,20-epoxy-1β-hydroxy-7β-methoxy-10β-methoxyacetoxy-9-oxo-11-taxen-13α-yl (2R,3S)-3-tert-butoxycarbonylamino-2-hydroxy-3-phenylpropionate were obtained in the form of a white foam, the characteristics of which are as follows:

optical rotation: ${\lbrack\alpha\rbrack \begin{matrix} D \\ 20 \end{matrix}} = {{- 48}\left( {{c = 0.5};{methanol}} \right)}$

¹H NMR spectrum (300 MHZ: CDCl₃; δ in ppm; coupling constants J in Hz): 1.17 (s, 3H: —H ₃); 1.22 (s, 3H: —CH ₃); 1.35 (s, 9H: —C(CH ₃)₃; 1.75 (s, 3H: —CH ₃); 1.80 and 2.75 (2 mts, 1H each: —CH ₂— 6); 1.90 (s, 3H: —CH ₃); 2.30 (d, J=9, 2H: —CH ₂— 14); 2.37 (s, 3H: —COCH ₃); 3.35 and 3.55 (2 s, 3H each: —OCH ₃); 3.40 (d, J=5, 1H: —OH 2′); 3.85 (d, J=7, 1H: —H 3); 3.88 (dd, J=11 and 7, 1H: —H 7); 4.17 and 4.32 (2 d, J=8.5, 1H each: —CH ₂— 20); 4.19 and 4.27 (2 d, J=15, 1H each: —OCOCH ₂OCH₃); 4.65 (mt, 1H: —H 2′); 4.97 (broad d, J=10, 1H: —H 5); 5.25 (broad d, J=10, 1H: —H 3′); 5.42 (d, J=10, 1H: —CONH—); 5.66 (d, J=7, 1H: —H 2); 6.18 (broad t, J=9, 1H: —H 13); 6.52 (s, 1H: —H 10); from 7.30 to 7.50 (mt, 5H: —C₆ H ₅ 3′); 7.51 ((t, J=7.5, 2H: —OCOC₆H₅(—H 3 and H 5)); 7.63 ((t, J=7.5, 1H: —OCOC₆H₅(—H 4)); 8.12 (d, J=7.5, 2H: —OCOC₆H₅(—H 2 and H 6)).

EXAMPLE 6

Working as in example 1, but starting from 4α-acetoxy-2β-benzoyloxy-5β,20 epoxy-1β-hydroxy-10β-methoxyacetoxy-7β-methylthiomethoxy-9-oxo-11-taxen-13α-yl (2R,4S,5R)-3-tert-butoxycarbonyl-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-4-phenyl-1,3-oxazolidine-5-carboxylate, 98 mg of 4α-acetoxy-2α-benzoyloxy-5β,20-epoxy-1-hydroxy-7β-methylthiomethoxy-9-oxo-10β-methoxyacetoxy-11-taxen-13α-yl (2R,3S)-3-tert-butoxycarbonylamino-2-hydroxy-3-phenyl propionate of the following structure was obtained:

NMR spectrum: ¹H (400 MHZ, CDCl₃, δ ppm): 1.25 (s: 6H); 1.38 (s: 9H); 1.71 (s: 1H); 1.78 (s: 3H); 1.88 (mt: 1H); 2.03 (s: 3H); 2.16 (s: 3H); 2.34 (d, J=9 Hz: 2H); 2.42 (s: 3H); 2.85 (mt: 1H); 3.38 (d, J=5 Hz: 1H); 3.53 (s: 3H); 3.89 (d, J=7.5 Hz: 1H); 4.15 (d, J=16 Hz: 1H); 4.20 (d, J=8.5 Hz: 1H); 4.27 (d, J=16 Hz: 1H); from 4.30 to 4.40 (mt: 1H); 4.32 (d, J=8.5 Hz: 1H); 4.65 (mt: 1H); 4.71 (AB pattern, J=12 Hz: 2H); 4.98 (d large, J=10 Hz: 1H); 5.28 (d large, J=10 Hz: 1H); 5.40 (d, J=10 Hz: 1H); 5.72 (d, J=7.5 Hz: 1H); 6.22 (t large, J=9 Hz: 1H); 6.67 (s: 1H); from 7.25 to 7.45 (mt: 5H); 7.52 (t, J=7.5 Hz: 2H); 7.64 (t, J=7.5 Hz: 1H); 8.12 (d, J=7.5 Hz: 2H).

EXAMPLE 7

The intermediate

when treated with HCl/EtOH by the method of Example 1 can generate 4α-acetoxy-2α-benzoyloxy-5β,20-epoxy-1βhydroxy-7β-methylthiomethoxy-9-oxo-10β-acetyl-11-taxen-13α-yl (2R,3S)-3-tert-butoxycarbonylamino-2-hydroxy-3-phenyl propionate.

EXAMPLE 8

Process for Preparing 7-Alkylthioalkyl-Paclitaxel Derivatives: Coupling of Taxenes with Phenyloxazolidine Carboxylic Acids (FIG. 1)

A solution of 52 g of 4,10β-diacetoxy-2α-benzoyloxy-5β,20-epoxyl,13α-dihydroxy-7β-triethylsiloxy-9-oxo-tax-11-ene (SIBAC (XXX))

in 850 ml ethyl acetate was dehydrated by distillation under 70 mmHg of pressure until a volume of 360 ml of distillate was obtained. The resulting solution was chilled to 0° C. 44.6 g (2R,4S,5R)-3-benzoyl-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-4-phenyloxazolidine-5-carboxylic acid (XXXa)

was added to this solution, followed by rinsing with 20 ml ethyl acetate. 22.4 g dicyclohexylcarbodiimide and 1.77 g 4-dimethylamino-pyridine were then successively added to the solution, followed by an additional rinse with 30 ml ethyl acetate. The reaction medium was maintained for about 4 hours at 5° C., whereupon the DCU (dicyclohexylurea) that was formed was filtered off. After the DCU was washed three times (each time with 270 ml ethyl acetate), the washing organic phases and the filtrate were recombined and washed twice at room temperature, each time with 815 ml of a 5% sodium bicarbonate solution. The organic phase was then dried with 136 g of MgSO₄ and evaporated to dryness at 35° C. under reduced pressure. The extract was taken up with 200 ml of methanol and then evaporated again to dryness. The dry extract was crystallized at about 30° C. in about 350 ml of methanol. The resulting suspension was chilled to 0° C. over a period of two hours and then kept at this temperature for 30 minutes. The product was then filtered, washed three times (each time with 40 ml frozen methanol), and then dried under 5 mmHg of pressure at room temperature. 75.5 g of the coupled ester (XXXI),

(2R, 4S, 5R)-3-benzoyl-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-4-phenyloxazolidine-5-carbonoxylate of 4,10β-diacetoxy-2α-benzoyloxy-5β,20-epoxy-1,13α-dihydroxy-7β-triethylsiloxy-9-oxo-tax-11-ene were obtained.

Preparation of the Desilylated Product (XXXII)

Starting with a solution of 72 g of (2R,4S,5R)-3-benzoyl-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-4-phenyloxazolidine-5-carboxylate of 4,10β-diacetoxy-2α-benzoyloxy-5β,20-epoxy-1,13α-dihydroxy-7β-triethylsiloxy-9-oxo-tax-11-ene in 360 ml methylene chloride, 74.8 g of 3HF.TEA (hydrofluoric acid.triethylamine) was added over 15 minutes and at room temperature. This was then left under agitation for approximately 16.5 hours. After the addition of 5.4 ml of 3HF.TEA and three hours of additional agitation to complete the reaction, the reaction mixture was washed with 300 ml of water and the aqueous phase was counter-extracted with 325 ml methylene chloride. The organic phases were recombined, and then washed, in succession, with 360 ml water, with a solution of 15 g sodium bicarbonate in 360 ml water, and then with 360 ml water. The organic phase was then concentrated to dryness under reduced pressure at 40° C., whereupon the product was left to dry at 30° C. under 5 mmHg of pressure. Yield: 66.6 g of (2R,4S,5R)-3-benzoyl-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-4-phenyloxazolidine-5-carboxylate of 4,10β-diacetoxy-2α-benzoyloxy-5β,20-epoxy-1,7β,13α-trihydroxy-9-oxo-tax-11-ene.

Preparation of the Methylthiomethyl-Paclitaxel Derivative (XXXIII) via a Pummerer Reaction

Starting with a solution of 60 g of (2R,4S,5R)-3-benzoyl-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-4-phenyloxazolidine-5-carboxylate of 4,10β-diacetoxy-2α-benzoyloxy-5β,20-epoxy-1,7β,13α-trihydroxy-9-oxo-tax-11-ene in 1,500 ml of DMSO (pre-dried on a molecular sieve), 1,200 ml of acetic acid was poured, over a period of 30 minutes, followed by 321 ml acetic anhydride over a period of 10 minutes. The reaction mixture was then left under agitation for about 21 hours at room temperature. Following the addition of 3,600 ml of ethyl acetate, the organic phase was washed with 2,335 g of sodium bicarbonate in 28 liters of water (800 ml of ethyl acetate are added during the operations), then again twice, each time with 1,800 ml water, and then washed once more with 900 ml water. The organic phase was then concentrated to dryness under reduced pressure at 40° C. Yield: 84 g of (2R,4S,5R)-3-benzoyl-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-4-phenyloxazolidine-5-carboxylate of 4,10β-diacetoxy-2α-benzoyloxy-5β,20-epoxy-1,13α-dihydroxy-7β-methylthiomethyloxy-9-oxo-tax-11-ene

in oil form. The product was taken up in 154 g of ethyl acetate for further manipulation.

Obtaining the Final Product (XXXIV)

80 g of ethyl acetate and 4.5 ml of HCl were added to 230 g of the preceding solution. After agitation at room temperature for 30 minutes, the organic phase was washed four times, each time with 140 ml of a 17% sodium chloride aqueous solution, then dried with 50 g of MgSO₄ and concentrated to dryness under reduced pressure at 35° C. 70.8 g of raw product were obtained and were dissolved in 70 g ethyl acetate. The product was purified by chromatography on silica gel using ethyl acetate/cyclohexane (45/55 v/v). Thus, from 92 g of solution, 30 g of pure (2R,3S)-3-benzoylamino-2-hydroxy-3-phenylpropionate of 4,10β-diacetoxy-2α-benzoyloxy-5β,20-epoxy-1,13α-dihydroxy-7β-methylthiomethyloxy-9-oxo-tax-11-ene

were obtained after concentration of the fractions to dryness and further drying of the dry extract under a pressure of 5 mmHg at room temperature.

General Methods for Experimental:

The following general methods were used for Examples 9 and 10. ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra were measured on a Varian 300 NMR spectrometer using tetramethylsilane as the internal standard. Thin layer chromatography (TLC) was performed on Merck DC-alufolien with Kieselgel 60F-254, and column chromatography was carried out on silica gel 60 (Merck; 230-400 mesh ASTM). The chemicals were purchased from Aldrich Co. and Sigma and purified before use by standard methods. Tetrahydrofuran was freshly distilled from sodium metal and benzophenone. Dichloromethane was also distilled immediately prior to use under nitrogen from calcium hydride. 10-Deacetyl-baccatin III (10-DAB) was donated by Indena, SpA, Italy.

EXAMPLE 9

Process for Preparing 7-Alkylthioalkyl-Paclitaxel Derivatives: Coupling of Alkylthioalkyl-Baccatin III Derivatives with β-Lactams (FIG. 2)

Compounds of formula (XXXIV) were made using β-lactam synthetic methods. The present invention developed new methods which achieved coupling of β-lactams in the synthesis of alkoxythioalkyl-paclitaxel.

In this example, β-lactams comprised β-lactams of the following formula:

wherein

Y is oxygen;

G₁ is an hydroxyl protecting group, such as ethoxyethyl (“EE”);

R₂″ is phenyl; and

R₃″ is phenyl.

The β-lactams were coupled with at least one baccatin III compound as described below.

Generally speaking, 10-deacetyl-baccatin III (10-DAB) was protected sequentially with triethylsilyl and acetyl, in order to generate SIBAC (7-TES-baccatin III). The 7-position triethylsilyl group may be removed with, for example, a solution of 3HF.TEA (hydrofluoric acid. triethylamine).

Alternatively, 10-DAB was directly acetylated with acetic anhydride in THF with CeCl₃ according to the methods of Holton et al. (Tetrahedron Lett. 39: 2883-2886 (1998). This procedure gave a 93% yield of baccatin III.

The resulting free 7-position hydroxyl was reacted in a Pummerer reaction to generate a 7-methylthiomethyl-baccatin III derivative. Under these conditions, the 13-position was oxidized to form a carbonyl group. One of ordinary skill would realize that this postion could then be reduced, using standard methods, regenerating the 13-position hydroxyl group.

The coupling reaction of the 7-methylthio-methyl-baccatin III derivative and the β-lactam may be carried out via any alkali metal or alkaline earth metal alkoxide of the 7-methylthiomethyl-baccatin III derivative at the C-13 hydroxyl group. The corresponding alkoxide is readily generated by reacting the 7-methylthiomethyl-baccatin III derivative with the desired alkali metal or alkaline earth metal base, such as at least one of sodium hexamethyldisilazide (NaHMDS), potassium hexamethyldisilazide (KHMDS), lithium hexamethyldisilazide (LiHMDS), potassium diisopropylamide (KDA), lithium diisopropylamide (LDA), sodium hydride (NaH), potassium hydride (KH), lithium hydride (LiH), calcium hydride (CaH₂), magnesium hydride (MgH₂), or n-butylLi in a dry nonprotic organic solvent such as tetrahydrofuran (THF), dioxane, ether, dimethoxyethane (DME), diglyme, dimethylformamide (DMF), mixtures of these solvents with hexane, toluene, and xylene, in a preferred temperature range from about −100° C. to about 50° C., more preferably at about −78° C. to about 25° C.

This reaction may optionally be carried out under inert atmosphere, such as nitrogen and/or argon. The amount of the base used for the reaction is optionally approximately equivalent to the amount of the 7-methylthio-methyl-baccatin III derivative when soluble bases such as sodium hexamethyldisilazide, potassium hexamethyldisilazide, lithium hexamethyldisilazide, sodium diisopropylamide, potassium diisopropylamide or lithium diisopropylamide are used. The use of a slight excess of the base does not adversely affect the reaction. When heterogeneous bases are used, 5-10 equivalents of the base (to the amount of the 7-methylthiomethyl-baccatin III) are preferably employed.

The coupling reaction of the metal alkoxide of the 7-methylthiomethyl-baccatin III thus generated with the β-lactam is typically carried out by adding the solution of the β-lactam in a dry organic solvent exemplified above in a preferred temperature range from about −100° C. to about 50° C., more preferably at about −35° C. to about 25° C. The mixture of reactants is stirred for 15 minutes to 24 hours and the progress and the completion of the reaction is monitored, for example, by thin layer chromatography (TLC). When the limiting reactant is completely consumed, the reaction is quenched by addition of a brine.

The crude reaction mixture is worked up using the standard isolation procedures which are generally known to those skilled in the art to give the corresponding protected taxoid. The proportion of the β-lactam and the protected baccatin III is in a range from 2:1 to 1:2, more preferably approximately 1:1 for purposes of economy and efficiency, but the ratio is not critical for the reaction.

Coupling the resulting metalized baccatin derivative with a protected β-lactam as described above resulted in the desired 7-thioalkoxytaxane with a protected 13-position side chain according to the β-lactam synthon methodology (Ojima, I. et al., Tetrahedron, 48: 6985-7012 (1992); Ojima, I. et al., Tetrahedron Letters, 34(26):4149-4152 (1993)).

Suitable protecting groups for the β-lactam include standard hydroxyl protecting groups known in the art, e.g., methoxymethyl (MOM), β-methoxyethoxymethyl (MEM), trialkylsilyl, triphenylmethyl (trityl), tert-butoxycarbonyl (t-BOC), ethoxyethyl (EE), f-MOC, TROC, etc. The protecting group(s) are removed by using standard procedures which are generally known to those skilled in the art to give the desired taxoid derivatives (T. W. Green, Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis, Chapter 2, pages 10-69 (1981)).

For example, ethoxyethoxy (EE) and triethylsilyl groups can be removed with 0.5N HCl at room temperature for 36 hours, and Troc group can be removed with zinc and acetic acid in methanol at 60° C. for 1 hour without disturbing the other functional groups and the skeleton of the taxoid. The deprotected taxoid may be optionally further purified and/or crystallized as necessary. The detailed experimental protocol was as follows.

Baccatin III, Option A:

A solution of SIBAC (XXX) (103 mg, 0.147 mmol) in 1 mL of 0.1N HCl in EtOH was stirred at 0° C. for 2 h, then treated with saturated NaHCO₃ and extracted with EtOAc.

The combined organic layers were washed with brine, dried over MgSO₄, filtered and evaporated to give a yellow residue which was chromatographed (hexane:EtOAc=2:3) to give 79 mg (92%) of baccatin III as a colorless solid: ¹H NMR (CDCl₃) 1.13 (s, 6H), 1.70 (s, 3H), 2.27 (s, 3H), 2.31 (s, 3H), 2.78 (m, 1H), 3.90 (d, J=6.9 Hz, 1H), 4.18 (d, J=8.1 Hz, 1H), 4.33 (d, J=8.1 Hz, 1H), 4.50 (m, 1H), 4.91 (m, 1H), 5.01 (d, J=8.1 Hz, 1H), 5.65 (d, J=6.9 Hz, 1H), 6.35 (s, 1H), 7.51 (t, J=7.5 Hz, 2H), 7.64 (m, 1H), 8.13 (d, J=7.5 Hz, 2H).

Baccatin III, Option B:

To a solution of 10-deacetyl-baccatin III (100 mg, 0.184 mmol) in 2 mL of THF was added Ac₂O (0.02 mL. 0.2 mmol) and 7 mg of CeCl₃.7H₂O. The resulting mixture was stirred at rt for 3 h, treated with saturated NaHCO₃ and extracted with EtOAc.

The combined organic layers were washed with brine, dried over MgSO₄, filtered and evaporated to give a white residue which was chromatographed (hexane:EtOAc=2:3) to give 100 mg (93%) of baccatin III as a colorless solid.

7-Methylthiomethyl-13-oxo-baccatin III:

To a solution of baccatin III (90 mg, 0.154 mmol) in 1 mL of DMSO was added 0.40 mL of Ac₂O and 0.11 mL of AcOH. The resulting mixture was heated at 50° C. overnight, then diluted with EtOAc, washed with saturated NaHCO₃ and water.

The organic layer was dried over MgSO₄, filtered and evaporated to give a yellow residue which was chromatographed (hexane:EtOAc=3:2) to give 8 mg of the desilylated taxoid and 67.5 mg (75% based on conversion) of 7-methylthiomethyl-13-oxo-baccatin as a colorless solid: ¹H NMR (CDCl₃) 1.23 (s, 3H), 1.30 (s, 3H), 1.77 (s, 3H), 2.18 (s, 3H), 2.24 (s, 3H), 2.71 (d, J=19.8 Hz, 1H), 2.84 (m, 1H), 2.99 (d, J=19.8 Hz, 1H), 4.01 (d, J=6.9 Hz, 1H), 4.17 (d, J=8.7 Hz, 1H), 4.39 (m, 2H), 4.69 (m, 2H), 4.99 (d, J=9.0 Hz, 1H), 5.73 (d, J=6.9 Hz, 1H), 6.75 (s, 1H), 7.53 (t, J=7.8 Hz, 2H), 7.68 (m, 1H), 8.11 (d, J=7.2 Hz, 2H).

7-Methylthiomethyl-baccatin III:

To a solution of 7-methylthiomethyl-13-oxo-baccatin (67 mg, 0.10 mmol) in 3 mL of EtOH was added 130 mg of NaBH₄ at 0° C. After 30 min, saturated NH₄Cl was added and the aqueous solution was extracted with EtOAc. The combined organic layers were washed with brine, dried over MgSO₄, filtered and evaporated to give a yellow residue which was chromatographed (hexane:EtOAc=3:2) to give 29 mg of starting material and 34 mg (88% based on conversion) of methylthiomethyl-baccatin III derivative as a colorless solid: ¹H NMR (CDCl₃) 1.09 (s, 3H), 1.23 (s, 3H), 1.79 (s, 3H), 2.17 (s, 3H), 2.23 (s, 3H), 2.26 (s, 3H), 2.33 (s, 3H), 2.86 (m, 1H), 3.98 (d, J=6.9 Hz, 1H), 4.19 (d, J=8.7 Hz, 1H), 4.37 (m, 2H), 4.72 (m, 2H), 4.89 (m, 1H), 5.01 (d, J=8.4 Hz, 1H), 5.67 (d, J=6.9 Hz, 1H), 6.61 (S, 1H), 7.52 (t, J=7.2 Hz, 2H), 7.65 (t, J=7.2 Hz, 1H), 8.14 (d, J=7.2 Hz, 2H)

2′-(1-Ethoxyethyl)-7-methylthiomethyl-paclitaxel:

To a solution of methylthiomethyl ether-baccatin derivative (17 mg, 0.026 mmol) and a EE protected β-lactam (20 mg, 0.058 mmol) in 1 mL dry THF was added a 1.0 M LiHMDS in THF (0.10 mL, 0.10 mmol) dropwise at −40° C., and the solution was stirred at −40° C. for 2 h. The reaction was quenched with aqueous saturated NH₄Cl solution, and the aqueous layer was extracted with CH₂Cl₂. The combined extracts were then dried over MgSO₄, filtered, and concentrated in vacuo.

¹H NMR (CDCl₃) 1.05-1.12 (m, 3H), 1.26 (s, 3H), 2.16 (s, 3H), 2.22 (s, 3H), 2.83 (m, 1H), 3.07-3.52 (m, 2H), 3.92 (m, 1H), 4.25 (m, 1H), 4.34 (m, 2H), [4.60 (q, J=5.4 Hz), 4.84 (q, J=5.4 Hz)] (1H), 4.69 (m, 3H), 5.00 (t, J=7.5 Hz, 1H), 5.77 (m, 2H), 6.28 (t, J=9.0 Hz, 1H), 6.59 (s, 1H), 7.16 (d, J=8.7 Hz, 1H), 7.36-7.49 (m, 7H), 7.52-7.58 (m, 3H), 7.63-7.70 (m, 1H), 7.83 (m, 2H), 8.15 (m, 2H).

7-Methylthiomethyl-paclitaxel:

A solution of protected methylthiomethyl ether-baccatin derivative (15 mg, 0.015 mmol) in 1 mL of 0.2 N HCl in EtOH was stirred at 0° C. for 1 h, then treated with saturated NaHCO₃ and extracted with EtOAc. The combined organic layers were washed with brine, dried over MgSO₄, filtered and evaporated to give a yellow residue which was chromatographed (hexane:EtOAc=1:1) to give 12.5 mg (90%) of the target compound as a colorless solid.

The proton NMR of the target was as follows: ¹H NMR (CDCl₃) 1.22 (s, 3H), 1.26 (s, 3H), 1.80 (s, 3H), 2.16 (s, 3H), 2.23 (s, 3H), 2.43 (s, 3H), 2.85 (m, 1H), 3.90 (d, J=6.9 Hz, 1H), 4.23 (d, J=8.7 Hz, 1H), 4.34 (m, 2H), 4.71 (m, 2H), 4.84 (d, J=2.4 Hz, 1H), 4.98 (d, J=7.8 Hz, 1H), 5.73 (d, J=6.9 Hz, 1H), 5.84 (dd, J=2.4 Hz, 9.0 Hz, 1H), 6.23 (m, 1H), 6.56 (s, 1H), 7.09 (d, J=9.0 Hz, 1H), 7.37-7.49 (m, 5H), 7.52-7.57 (m, 5H), 7.63-7.68 (m, 1H), 7.80 (m, 2H), 8.16 (m, 2H)

EXAMPLE 10

Process for Preparing 7-Alkylthioalkyl-Paclitaxel Derivatives: Coupling of Baccatins with β-Lactams Followed by Pummerer Reaction (FIG. 3)

Generally, 10-DAB was protected sequentially with triethylsilyl and acetyl, in order to generate SIBAC (7-TES-baccatin III). SIBAC was metalized to form an alkaline metal or alkaline earth metal salt at position 13 as detailed below. The metalization may be accomplished with, for example, at least one of sodium hexamethyldisilazide (NaHMDS), KHMDS, LiHMDS, LDA, n-butylLi, or NaH.

Coupling the resulting metalized baccatin with a protected β-lactam resulted in a 7-trialkylsilyl-paclitaxel with a protected 13-position side chain according to the β-lactam synthon methodology (Ojima, I. et al., Tetrahedron, 48: 6985-7012 (1992); Ojima, I. et al., Tetrahedron Letters, 34 (26): 4149-4152 (1993)).

The 7-position trialkylsilyl group may be removed with, for example, a solution of 3HF.TEA (hydrofluoric acid.triethylamine); the resulting free 7-position hydroxyl is reacted in a Pummerer reaction to generate a 7-methylthio-methyl-paclitaxel with an optionally protected 2′-hydroxyl. One of skill in the art would understand that depending on the reaction conditions, the protecting group may be or may not be removed by the conditions of the Pummerer reaction.

If required, the 2′ protecting group was optionally removed by standard methods. The deprotected paclitaxel was optionally further purified and/or crystallized as necessary. The detailed experimental protocol was as follows.

7-Triethylsilyl-10-deacetyl-baccatin III:

To a solution of 10-deacetyl-baccatin III (300 mg, 0.555 mmol) and imidazole (150 mg, 2.22 mmol) in 14 mL of N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) was added chlorotriethylsilane (0.37 ml, 2.21 mmol) dropwise via syringe at 0° C., and the reaction mixture was stired for 2 h at 0° C. and diluted with EtOAc. The mixture was then washed with H₂O, brine, dried over MgSO₄ and concentrated.

The crude product was chromatographed (hexane:EtOAc=1:1) to give 347 mg (95%) of 7-triethylsilyl-10-deacetyl-baccatin III as a white solid: ¹H NMR (CDCl₃) δ 0.56 (m, 6H), 0.94 (m, 9H), 1.08 (s, 6H), 1.59 (d, J=2.5 Hz, 1H), 1.73 (S, 3H), 1.90 (m, 1H), 2.05 (d, J=4.8 Hz, 1H), 2.08 (s, 3H), 2.24 (s, 1H), 2.28 (s, 3H), 2.48 (m, 1H), 3.95 (d, J=7.1 Hz, 1H), 4.16 (d, J=8.3 Hz, 1H), 4.25 (s, 1H), 4.31 (d, J=8.3 Hz, 1H), 4.40 (dd, J=6.4, 10.5 Hz, 1H), 4.85 (t, J=7.8 Hz, 1H), 4.95 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 1H), 5.17 (s, 1H), 5.60 (d, J=7.0 Hz, 1H), 7.47 (t, J=7.5 Hz, 2H), 7.60 (t, J=7.5 Hz, 1H), 8.10 (d, J=7.3 Hz, 2H); ¹³C NMR (CDCl₃) 5.1, 6.7, 9.9, 15.1, 19.5, 22.6, 26.8, 37.2, 38.6, 42.7, 47.0, 57.9, 67.9, 72.9, 74.6, 74.8, 76.5, 78.8, 80.7, 84.2, 87.6, 128.6, 129.4, 130.0, 133.6, 135.1, 141.8, 167.0, 170.7, 210.3.

7-Triethylsilyl-baccatin III:

To a solution of 7-TES-10-DAB III (345.0 mg, 0.524 mmol) in 30 mL of dry THF was added 1.0 M LiHMDS in THF (0.53 mL, 0.530 mmol) dropwise via syringe at −40° C. The mixture was stirred at −40° C. for 5 min, then acetyl chloride (65 μl, 0.706 mmol) was added dropwise. After 90 min, the reaction was quenched with aqueous saturated NH₄Cl, extracted with CH₂Cl₂, and the combined extracts were dried over MgSO₄, filtered, and concentrated in vacuo.

The crude product was purified on a silica gel column (hexane:EtOAc=7:3 followed by 1:1) to afford 355 mg (93%) of SIBAC (XXX) as a white solid: ¹H NMR (CDCl₃) 0.55 (m, 6H), 0.90 (m, 9H), 1.03 (s, 3H), 1.10 (s, 3H), 1.71 (s, 3H), 2.21 (s, 3H), 2.32 (s, 3H), 3.90 (d, J=6.9 Hz, 1H), 4.16 (d, J=7.8 Hz, 1H), 4.33 (d, J=7.8 Hz, 1H), 4.51 (dd, J=6.9, 10.5 Hz, 1H), 4.86 (t, J=7.8 Hz, 1H), 4.98 (d, J=9.6 Hz, 1H), 5.66 (d, J=6.9 Hz, 1H) (H2), 6.49 (s, 1H), 7.53 (t, J=7.4 Hz, 2H), 7.66 (m, 1H), 8.13 (d, J=7.2 Hz, 2H).

2′-(1-Ethoxyethyl)-7-triethylsilyl-paclitaxel:

To a solution of 7-TES-baccatin III (SIBAC XXX) (20 mg, 0.028 mmol) and ethoxyethyl protected β-lactam (20 mg, 0.058 mmol) in 1 mL dry THF was added a 1.0 M LiHMDS in THF (0.10 mL, 0.10 mmol) dropwise at −40° C., and the mixture was stirred at −40° C. for 2 h. The reaction was quenched with aqueous saturated NH₄Cl solution, and the aqueous layer was extracted with CH₂Cl₂. The combined extracts were dried over MgSO₄, filtered, and concentrated in vacuo.

The residue was chromatographed (hexane:EtOAc=4:1) to give 5 mg of SIBAC and 17 mg of 2′-(1-ethoxyethyl)-7-triethylsilyl-paclitaxel (77% based on conversion) as a colorless solid: ¹H NMR (CDCl₃) 0.55 (m, 6H), 0.90 (m, 9H), 1.70 (s, 3H), 2.05 (s, 3H), 2.21 (s, 3H), 3.08-3.44 (m, 2H), 3.86 (m, 1H), 4.23 (dd, J=5.7 Hz, 8.7 Hz, 1H), 4.36 (m, 1 H), 4.50 (m, 1H), [4.58 (q, J=5.4 Hz), 4.84 (q, J=5.4 Hz)] (1H), [4.68 (d, J=2.4 Hz), 4.84 (d, J=3.6 Hz)] (1H), 5.76 (m, 2H), 6.28 (m, 1H), 6.48 (s, 1H), 7.14 (d, J=8.7 Hz, 1H), 7.31-7.55 (m, 10H), 7.64 (m, 1H), 7.82 (d, J=7.5 Hz, 2H), 8.16 (m, 2H).

2′-(1-Ethoxyethyl)-paclitaxel:

To a solution of 2′-(1-ethoxyethyl)-7-triethylsilyl-paclitaxel (9 mg, 0.009 mmol) in 0.5 mL pyridine and 0.1 mL of CH₃CN at 0° C. was added 0.1 mL of HF/pyridine solution. The resulting mixture was allowed to warm up to room temperature, was stirred overnight, and was then diluted with saturated NaHCO₃ solution. The aqueous layer was extracted with EtOAc and the combined organic layers were washed with saturated CuSO₄ and water, dried over MgSO₄, filtered, and evaporated to give a yellow residue.

The residue was chromatographed (hexane:EtOAc=2:3) to give 6 mg (67%) of the desilylated taxoid as a colorless solid: ¹H NMR (CDCl₃) 0.55 (m, 6H), 0.90 (m, 9H), 1.70 (s, 3H), 2.05 (s, 3H), 2.21 (s, 3H), 3.08-3.44 (m, 2H), 3.86 (m, 1H), 4.23 (dd, J=5.7 Hz, 8.7 Hz, 1H), 4.36 (m, 1 H), 4.50 (m, 1H), [4.58 (q, J=5.4 Hz), 4.84 (q, J=5.4 Hz)] (1H), [4.68 (d, J=2.4 Hz), 4.84 (d, J=3.6 Hz)] (1H), 5.76 (m, 2H), 6.28 (m, 1H), 6.48 (s, 1H), 7.14 (d, J=8.7 Hz, 1H), 7.31-7.55 (m, 10H), 7.64 (m, 1H), 7.82 (d, J=7.5 Hz, 2H), 8.16 (m, 2H).

2′-(1-Ethoxyethyl)-7-methylthiomethyl-paclitaxel (Protected Methylthiomethyl-Paclitaxel Derivative):

To a solution of the desilylated taxoid (5 mg, 0.005 mmol), in 0.05 mL of DMSO, was added 0.02 mL of Ac₂O and 5 μL of AcOH. The resulting mixture was heated at 50° C. for 5 h, then diluted with EtOAc, washed with saturated NaHCO₃ and water. The organic layer was dried over MgSO₄, filtered and evaporated to give a yellow residue.

The residue was chromatographed (hexane:EtOAc=3:2) to give 4 mg (80%) of the protected 7-methylthiomethyl-paclitaxel derivative as a colorless solid: ¹H NMR (CDCl₃) 1.05-1.12 (m, 3H), 1.26 (s, 3H), 2.16 (s, 3H), 2.22 (s, 3H), 2.83 (m, 1H), 3.07-3.52 (m, 2H), 3.92 (m, 1H), 4.25 (m, 1H), 4.34 (m, 2H), [4.60 (q, J=5.4 Hz), 4.84 (q, J=5.4 Hz)] (1H), 4.69 (m, 3H), 5.00 (t, J=7.5 Hz, 1H), 5.77 (m, 2H), 6.28 (t, J=9.0 Hz, 1H), 6.59 (s, 1H), 7.16 (d, J=8.7 Hz, 1H), 7.36-7.49 (m, 7H), 7.52-7.58 (m, 3H), 7.63-7.70 (m, 1H), 7.83 (m, 2H), 8.15 (m, 2H).

The 7-methylthiomethyl-paclitaxel was obtained by the deprotection of 2′-(ethoxyethyl)-7-methylthiomethyl-paclitaxel in the same manner as that described in Example 9.

EXAMPLE 11

Process for Preparing 7-Alkylthioalkyl-Paclitaxel Derivatives: Coupling of Alkylthioalkyl-Baccatins with β-Lactams

The process of Example 9 is followed, with the exception that instead of reacting the 10-acetyl-baccatin derivative in a Pummerer reaction, the 10-acetyl-baccatin derivative is reacted by conversion of the free 7-position hydroxy to a methylthiomethyl ether by using methyl sulfide and benzoyl peroxide. An exemplary procedure was described, for example, in Medina, J. C., and Kyler, K. S., Tetrahedron Letters, 29(31): 3773-3776 (1988).

EXAMPLE 12

Process for Preparing 7-Alkylthioalkyl-Paclitaxel Derivatives: Coupling of Baccatins with β-Lactams Followed by Conversion of the Alcohol

The process of Example 10 is followed, with the exception that the Pummerer reaction is replaced by conversion of the alcohol to a methylthiomethyl ether using methyl sulfide and benzoyl peroxide. This procedure is described, for example, in Medina, J. C., and Kyler, K. S., Tetrahedron Letters, 29(31): 3773-3776 (1988).

Biological Activity:

The new products of general formula (I) in which Z represents a radical of general formula (II), and other inventive compounds disclosed herein, manifest significant inhibitory activity with respect to abnormal cell proliferation, and possess therapeutic properties permitting the treatment of patients having pathological conditions associated with abnormal cell proliferation.

Such pathological conditions include the abnormal cell proliferation of malignant or non-malignant cells of various tissues and/or organs, comprising, without implied limitation, muscle, bone or connective tissue, the skin, brain, lungs, sex organs, the lymphatic or renal systems, mammary or blood cells, liver, the digestive system, pancreas and thyroid or adrenal glands.

These pathological conditions can also include psoriasis, solid tumors, cancers of the ovary, breast, brain, prostate, colon, stomach, kidney or testicles, Kaposi's sarcoma, cholangiocarcinoma, choriocarcinoma, neuroblastoma, Wilms' tumor, Hodgkin's disease, melanoma, multiple myeloma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia and acute or chronic granulocytic lymphoma.

The new products according to the invention are especially useful for the treatment of cancer of the ovary. The products according to the invention may be used to prevent or delay the appearance or reappearance of the pathological conditions, or to treat these pathological conditions.

The products according to the invention may be administered to a patient according to different dosage forms suited to the chosen administration route, which was preferably the parenteral route. Parenteral administration comprises intravenous, intraperitoneal, intramuscular or subcutaneous administration. Intraperitoneal or intravenous administration was more especially preferred.

The present invention also comprises preparing pharmaceutical compositions containing at least one product of general formula (I), in a sufficient amount suitable for use in human or veterinary therapy. The preparations of these compositions may be accomplished according to the customary methods, using one or more pharmaceutically acceptable adjuvants, vehicles or excipients. Suitable vehicles include diluents, sterile aqueous media and various non-toxic solvents. Preferably, the compositions take the form of aqueous solutions or suspensions, injectable solutions which can contain emulsifying agents, colorings, preservatives or stabilizers. However, the compositions can also take the form of tablets, pills, powders or granules which can be administered orally.

The choice of adjuvants or excipients may be determined by the solubility and the chemical properties of the product, the particular mode of administration and good pharmaceutical practice.

For parenteral administration, sterile, aqueous or non-aqueous solutions or suspensions are used. For the preparation of non-aqueous solutions or suspensions, natural vegetable oils such as olive oil, sesame oil or liquid petroleum, or injectable organic esters such as ethyl oleate, may be used. The sterile aqueous solutions can consist of a solution of a pharmaceutically acceptable salt dissolved in water. The aqueous solutions are suitable for intravenous administration provided the pH is appropriately adjusted and the solution is made isotonic, for example with a sufficient amount of sodium chloride or glucose. The sterilization may be carried out by heating or by any other means which does not adversely affect the composition.

It is clearly understood that all the products participating in the compositions according to the invention must be pure and non-toxic in the amounts used.

The compositions can contain at least 0.01% of therapeutically active product. The amount of active product in a composition is such that a suitable dosage can be prescribed. Preferably, the compositions are prepared in such a way that a single dose contains from 0.01 to 1000 mg approximately of active product for parenteral administration.

The therapeutic treatment may be performed concurrently with other therapeutic treatments including anti-neoplastic drugs, monoclonal antibodies, immunotherapy or radiotherapy or biological response modifiers. The response modifiers include, without implied limitation, lymphokines and cytokines such as interleukins, interferons (α, β or δ) and TNF.

Other chemotherapeutic agents which are useful in the treatment of disorders due to abnormal cell proliferation include, without implied limitation, alkylating agents, for instance nitrogen mustards such as mechloretamine, cyclophosphamide, melphalan and chlorambucil, alkyl sulfonates such as busulfan, nitrosoureas such as carmustine, lomustine, semustine and streptozocin, triazenes such as dacarbazine, antimetabolites such as folic acid analogues, for instance methotrexate, pyrimidine analogues such as fluorouracil and cytarabine, purine analogues such as mercaptopurine and thioguanine, natural products, for instance Vinca alkaloids such as vinblastine, vincristine and vindesine, epipodophyllotoxins such as etoposide and teniposide, antibiotics such as dactinomycin, daunorubicin, doxorubicin, bleomycin, plicamycin and mitomycin, enzymes such as L-asparaginase, various agents such as coordination complexes of platinum, for instance cisplatin, substituted ureas such as hydroxyurea, methylhydrazine derivatives such as procarbazine, adrenocortical suppressants such as mitotane and aminoglutethimide, hormones and antagonists such as adrenocorticosteroids such as prednisone, progestins such as hydroxyprogesterone caproate, methoxyprogesterone acetate and megestrol acetate, oestrogens such as diethylstilboestrol and ethynyloestradiol, anti-estrogens such as tamoxifen, and androgens such as testosterone propionate and fluoxymesterone.

The doses used for carrying out the methods according to the invention are those which permit a prophylactic treatment or a maximum therapeutic response. The doses vary according to the administration form, the particular product selected and features distinctive to the subject to be treated.

In general, the doses are those which are therapeutically effective for the treatment of disorders due to abnormal cell proliferation. The products according to the invention may be administered as often as necessary to obtain the desired therapeutic effect.

Some patients may respond rapidly to relatively high or low doses, and then require low or zero maintenance doses. Generally, low doses will be used at the beginning of the treatment and, if necessary, increasingly stronger doses will be administered until an optimum effect is obtained. For other patients, it may be necessary to administer maintenance doses 1 to 8 times a day, and preferably 1 to 4 times, according to the physiological requirements of the patient in question. It is also possible that some patients may require the use of only one to two daily administrations.

In man, the doses are generally between 0.01 and 200 mg/kg. For intraperitoneal administration, the doses will generally be between 0.1 and 100 mg/kg, preferably between 0.5 and 50 mg/kg and still more specifically between 1 and 10 mg/kg. For intravenous administration, the doses are generally between 0.1 and 50 mg/kg, preferably between 0.1 and 5 mg/kg and still more specifically between 1 and 2 mg/kg. It is understood that, in order to choose the most suitable dosage, account should be taken of the administration route, the patient's weight, general state of health and age and all factors which may influence the efficacy of the treatment.

The example which follows illustrates a composition according to the invention.

PHARMACOLOGICAL EXAMPLE

40 mg of the product obtained in Example 1 are dissolved in 1 cm³ of EMULPHOR® EL 620 (Stepan Canada, Inc.) and 1 cm³ of ethanol, and the solution is then diluted by adding 18 cm³ of physiological saline.

The composition is administered by perfusion over 1 hour by introduction in physiological solution.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects as illustrative only and not restrictive.

The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope. 

We claim:
 1. A method of preparing (2R,3S)-3-benzoylamino-2-hydroxy-3-phenylpropionate of 4,10β-diacetoxy-2α-benzoyloxy-5β,20-epoxy-1,13α-dihydroxy-7β-methylthiomethyloxy-9-oxo-tax-11-ene, formula (XXXIV):

comprising: silylating a baccatin of formula (IX):

 to obtain a silylated baccatin, wherein the silylation occurs at position 7; acetylating said silylated baccatin to obtain a silylated baccatin III of formula (XXX):

removing the silyl group to obtain baccatin III with a 7-hydroxy group; or, alternatively, directly acetylating the baccatin of formula (IX) to obtain baccatin III with a 7-hydroxy group; reacting said baccatin III with a 7-hydroxy group, wherein said reacting may include more than one reaction step, including an optional reduction reaction, to generate a compound of formula (A):

 wherein R is hydrogen; performing a metalation of said compound of formula (A) with an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal base, to produce a metalized methylthiomethyl-baccatin III derivative of formula (A), wherein R is an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal; coupling said metalized methylthiomethyl-baccatin III derivative of formula (A) with a protected β-lactam, wherein said protected β-lactam comprises a β-lactam of formula:

 wherein Y is oxygen; G₁ is an hydroxyl protecting group; R₂″ is phenyl; and R₃″ is phenyl;  to produce a 2′-protected 7-methylthiomethyl-paclitaxel derivative;

and deprotecting said 2′-protected 7-methylthiomethyl-paclitaxel derivative by removing G₁ to produce a compound of formula (XXXIV).
 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said baccatin III with a 7-hydroxy group is subjected to Pummerer reaction conditions to obtain said compound of formula (A).
 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said baccatin III with a 7-hydroxy group is reacted with dimethyl sulfide and benzoyl peroxide to obtain said compound of formula (A).
 4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the alkali metal or alkaline earth metal base is at least one compound selected from sodium hexamethyldisilazide (NaHMDS), potassium hexamethyldisilazide (KHMDS), lithium hexamethyldisilazide (LiHMDS), potassium diisopropylamide (KDA), lithium diisopropylamide (LDA), sodium hydride (NaH), potassium hydride (KH), lithium hydride (LiH), calcium hydride (CaH₂), magnesium hydride (MgH₂), and n-butyl Li.
 5. The method according to claim 4, wherein said at least one compound is a hexamethyldisilazide.
 6. The method according to claim 5, wherein said hexamethyldisilazide is sodium hexamethyldisilazide, and R is Na.
 7. The method according to claim 6, wherein G₁ is selected from methoxymethyl (MOM), β-methoxyethoxymethyl (MEM), trialkylsilyl, triphenylmethyl (trityl), TIPSO, tert-butoxycarbonyl (t-BOC), ethoxyethyl (EE), F-MOC, and TROC.
 8. The method according to claim 7, wherein G₁ is ethoxyethyl.
 9. The method according to claim 5, wherein said hexamethyldisilazide is lithium hexamethyldisilazide, and R is Li.
 10. The method according to claim 9, wherein G₁ is selected from methoxymethyl (MOM), β-methoxyethoxymethyl (MEM), trialkylsilyl, triphenylmethyl (trityl), tert-butoxycarbonyl (t-BOC), ethoxyethyl (EE), F-MOC, and TROC.
 11. The method according to claim 10, wherein G₁ is ethoxyethyl.
 12. The method according to claim 3, wherein the alkali metal or alkaline earth metal base is at least one compound selected from sodium hexamethyldisilazide (NaHMDS), potassium hexamethyldisilazide (KHMDS), lithium hexamethyldisilazide (LiHMDS), potassium diisopropylamide (KDA), lithium diisopropylamide (LDA), sodium hydride (NaH), potassium hydride (KH), lithium hydride (LiH), calcium hydride (CaH₂), magnesium hydride (MgH₂), and n-butyl Li.
 13. The method according to claim 12, wherein said at least one compound is a hexamethyldisilazide.
 14. The method according to claim 13, wherein said hexamethyldisilazide is sodium hexamethyldisilazide, and R is Na.
 15. The method according to claim 14, wherein G₁ is selected from methoxymethyl (MOM), β-methoxyethoxymethyl (MEM), trialkylsilyl, triphenylmethyl (trityl), tert-butoxycarbonyl (t-BOC), ethoxyethyl (EE), F-MOC, and TROC.
 16. The method according to claim 15, wherein G₁ is ethoxyethyl.
 17. The method according to claim 13, wherein said hexamethyldisilazide is lithium hexamethyldisilazide, and R is Li.
 18. The method according to claim 17, wherein G₁ is selected from methoxymethyl (MOM), β-methoxyethoxymethyl (MEM), trialkylsilyl, triphenylmethyl (trityl), tert-butoxycarbonyl (t-BOC), ethoxyethyl (EE), F-MOC, and TROC.
 19. The method according to claim 18, wherein G₁ is ethoxyethyl.
 20. A method of preparing (2R,3S)-3-benzoylamino-2-hydroxy-3-phenylpropionate of 4,10β-diacetoxy-2α-benzoyloxy-5β,20-epoxy-1,13α-dihydroxy-7β-methylthiomethyloxy-oxo-tax-11-ene, formula (XXXIV):

comprising: silylating a deacetylbaccatin III of formula (IX):

 to obtain a silylated deacetyl baccatin III derivative, wherein the silylation occurs at position 7; acetylating said silylated deacetyl baccatin Iii derivative to obtain a silylated baccatin III of formula (XXX):

performing a metalation of said silylated baccatin III of formula (XXX) with an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal base to produce a metalized silylated baccatin III derivative, in which 13-hydroxy becomes 13-RO, where R is an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal; coupling said metalized silylated baccatin III derivative with a β-lactam, wherein said β-lactam comprises a lactam of formula:

 wherein Y is oxygen; G₁ is an hydroxyl protecting group; R₂″ is phenyl; and R₃″ is phenyl;  to generate a 2′-protected 7-silylated paclitaxel derivative; removing the 7-silyl group to obtain a 2′-protected paclitaxel derivative with a 7-hydroxy group; reacting said 2′-protected paclitaxel derivative with a 7-hydroxy group to obtain a 7-methylthiomethyl-paclitaxel derivative, wherein G₁ is optionally replaced by H; and optionally deprotecting said 7-methylthiomethyl-paclitaxel derivative by removing G₁ to produce a compound of formula (XXXIV).
 21. The method according to claim 20, wherein said 2′-protected paclitaxel derivative with a 7-hydroxy group is subjected to Pummerer reaction conditions to obtain said 7-methylthiomethyl-paclitaxel derivative.
 22. The method according to claim 20, wherein said 2′-protected paclitaxel derivative with a 7-hydroxy group is reacted with dimethyl sulfide and benzoyl peroxide to obtain said 7-methylthiomethyl-paclitaxel derivative.
 23. The method according to claim 20, wherein the alkali metal or alkaline earth metal base is at least one compound selected from sodium hexamethyldisilazide (NaHMDS), potassium hexamethyldisilazide (KHMDS), lithium hexamethyldisilazide (LiHMDS), potassium diisopropylamide (KDA), lithium diisopropylamide (LDA), sodium hydride (NaH), potassium hydride (KH), lithium hydride (LiH), calcium hydride (CaH₂), magnesium hydride (MgH₂), and n-butyl Li.
 24. The method according to claim 23, wherein said at least one compound is a hexamethyldisilazide.
 25. The method according to claim 24, wherein said hexamethyldisilazide is sodium hexamethyldisilazide, and R is Na.
 26. The method according to claim 20, wherein G₁ is selected from methoxymethyl (MOM), β-methoxyethoxymethyl (MEM), trialkylsilyl, triphenylmethyl (trityl), tert-butoxycarbonyl (t-BOC), ethoxyethyl (EE), F-MOC, and TROC.
 27. The method according to claim 26, wherein G₁ is ethoxyethyl.
 28. The method according to claim 24, wherein said hexamethyldisilazide is lithium hexamethyldisilazide, and R is Li.
 29. The method according to claim 28, wherein G₁ is selected from methoxymethyl (MOM), β-methoxyethoxymethyl (MEM), trialkylsilyl, triphenylmethyl (trityl), tert-butoxycarbonyl (t-BOC), ethoxyethyl (EE), F-MOC, and TROC.
 30. The method according to claim 29, wherein G₁ is ethoxyethyl.
 31. The method according to claim 21, wherein the alkali metal or alkaline earth metal base is at least one compound selected from sodium hexamethyldisilazide (NaHMDS), potassium hexamethyldisilazide (KHMDS), lithium hexamethyldisilazide (LiHMDS), potassium diisopropylamide (KDA), lithium diisopropylamide (LDA), sodium hydride (NaH), potassium hydride (KH), lithium hydride (LiH), calcium hydride (CaH₂), magnesium hydride (MgH₂), and n-butyl Li.
 32. The method according to claim 31, wherein said at least one compound is a hexamethyldisilazide.
 33. The method according to claim 32, wherein said hexamethyldisilazide is sodium hexamethyldisilazide, and P is Na.
 34. The method according to claim 33, wherein G₁ is selected from methoxymethyl (MOM), β-methoxyethoxymethyl (MEM), trialkylsilyl, triphenylmethyl (trityl), tert-butoxycarbonyl (t-BOC), ethoxyethyl (EE), F-MOC, and TROC.
 35. The method according to claim 34, wherein G₁ is ethoxyethyl.
 36. The method according to claim 32, wherein said hexamethyldisilazide is lithium hexamethyldisilazide, and R is Li.
 37. The method according to claim 36, wherein G₁ is selected from methoxymethyl (MOM), β-methoxyethoxymethyl (MEM), trialkylsilyl, triphenylmethyl (trityl), tert-butoxycarbonyl (t-BOC), ethoxyethyl (EE), F-MOC, and TROC.
 38. The method according to claim 37, wherein G₁ is ethoxyethyl.
 39. A method of preparing a 7-methylthiomethyl-paclitaxel derivative, comprising: performing a metalation of a 7-methylthiomethyloxy-baccatin III derivative with an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal base, to produce a metalized 7-methylthiomethyl-baccatin III derivative of formula (A):

wherein R is an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal; coupling the metalized 7-methylthiomethyl-baccatin III derivative of formula (A) with a β-lactam, wherein said β-lactam comprises a lactam of formula:

 wherein Y is oxygen; G₁ is an hydroxyl protecting group; R₂″ is phenyl; and R₃″ is phenyl;  producing a 2′-protected 7-methylthiomethyl-paclitaxel derivative; and optionally deprotecting said 2′-protected 7-methylthiomethyl-paclitaxel derivative to yield the 7-methylthiomethyl-paclitaxel derivative. 